A STEM Challenge that invites students to join the effort to tackle nitrogen pollution.
About the Challenge
As part of the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP), the Long Island Water Quality Challenge promotes project-based learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Long Island schools, encouraging enthusiasm for STEM learning and an interest in STEM-related careers.
The Long Island Water Quality Challenge is an opportunity for students in grades 6-12 to play an important role in improving water quality on Long Island and reducing nitrogen pollution on school grounds. Stormwater runoff on school property can transport nitrogen pollution and other contaminants through the watershed and into our coastal waterways. Excess nitrogen in surface waters can cause eutrophication (excess algae growth or “bloom”). Toxic algal blooms lead to low oxygen conditions, fish kills, and degraded wetlands and marine habitats. Nitrogen also contaminates the groundwater which is the sole source of Long Island’s drinking water.
To participate in this challenge, student teams will create a green infrastructure project to reduce nitrogen pollution on school grounds. Green Infrastructure project examples include rain gardens and planter boxes, green roofs, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, and bioswales – student teams can build off an existing idea or create a completely new concept. Student teams will compete with the possibility of being awarded a $2,500 grant to be used for implementation or partial implementation of the winning project design. Accepting the grant in order to implement the project is optional and at the discretion of the student team and school.
Important Dates
November 13, 2023: Letters of Interest due
February 2, 2024: Final project proposals submitted
March 2024: Awardees announced
May/June 2024: Awards presented
Challenge requirements and how to submit a Letter of Interest:
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Important Links
PROJECT PROPOSAL EVALUATION RUBRIC
LONG ISLAND NITROGEN ACTION PLAN INFORMATIONAL VIDEO
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FACT SHEET
Past LIWQ Challenge Information
RFEOI Questions and Responses:
Q: How many students per team are allowed?
A: There no rules to the number of students per team allowable. In the past we have had teams of made up of 2 students all the way up to an entire science class.
Q: How many proposals are allowed from each school?
A: We prefer to limit the number of proposals per school to 3.
Q: We have 2 middle schools in the district – can each building submit a proposal or if it was limited to 1 submission per district?
A: Both buildings in the district can submit a proposal. We limit the number of submissions to 3 proposals per individual school.
Q: Is the LOI due Nov 13 at the end of the business day (5:00PM) or at the end of the day (11:59PM?)
A: 11:59PM
Q: Would I be able to submit 3 different LOIs and decide, ultimately, by February 2 when the final proposal is due, to only go with 1 project described in 1 of the LOIs?
A: Yes. Letters of Interest are not binding.
Q: Can the scope/context of the project proposal change from what was initially described in the LOI? (As my students conduct ongoing research for the project and the submission of the final proposal in February, the project scope may change based upon the design of the project, location on the school grounds, and current / future / available practices on the school grounds as we get more information)?
A: The project details can be brief in the Letter of Interest. The scope/context can change from what is initially described.
Q: How specific should the description of the project concept be for the LOI? i.e., is there a typical length, amount of background research, etc. to include?
A: The details can be general. Letters of Interest should not be longer than 1 page. We don’t expect background research to have been conducted at this point of the project.